League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Santa Clara County, CA November 2, 2004 Election
	Elaine Alquist Answers Questions Candidate for State Senator; District 13

Read the answers from all candidates.

Questions & Answers

1. What does California need to do to address the current budget crisis?

It has become increasingly clear that the State budget process is broken. The budget rarely meets deadlines and often produces devastating cuts to education, health care, and transportation.

I propose a two-year budget cycle, and a mandatory "rainy day" reserve so that we are obligated to save money during good economic times. Also, I feel that the budget process needs to take place in an orderly fashion, without the last minute frenzied midnight budget deals that often escape public scrutiny.

2. What should the state's priorities be for K-12 education? For the Community College System?

As a former teacher, school board member, member of the Assembly Education Committee for six years and Chair of the Higher Education Committee for my final two years, I've been a fighter for public schools and improving education from pre-school through university.

I strongly believe that we need to invest more in education, not less (as some in Sacramento have suggested). As a parent and a grandparent, I will continue to fight for Universal Pre-School. Early education shouldn't be the privilege of the fortunate.

To promote an educated and capable workforce we need to continue to invest in higher education. I learned this as a college trustee in the 1970s and as a member of the California Postsecondary Education Commission (CPEC) in the 1990s. While in the Assembly I successfully authored the Graduate Education Opportunity Act (AB 511), which allows employers to reimburse graduate students $5,250 in tax free tuition credit. The business community relies on skilled workers, and higher education facilitates economic growth.

I would continue to fight to protect investment in education - from pre-school to Ph.D. I was proud to co-author the largest statewide school bond measure in history to fund major school facility construction and modernization projects for K-12 and higher education.

I believe that we should invest in all levels of education and would support measures to lower the threshold for local school bond measures. I would continue working to ensure high standards in the classroom and accountability for parents, teachers and students. I know that educating our children and adults is the most important investment we can make. This was my top priority in the Assembly, and if elected, will be in the State Senate.

3. What measures would you support to address California's water needs?

Water infrastructure planning and funding must become a priority for the state of California as our state is relying on water systems that need to be upgraded. While in the Assembly I co-authored legislation mandating Bay Area water planning and Department of Health Services oversight (AB 1823). I would continue to support efforts that ensure the most efficient use of our water resources and encourage conservation from individuals and industry alike.

4. What should the Legislature be doing to address the needs of Californians without health insurance?

I am proud of what we were able to accomplish during my six years in the Legislature with regard to health care. As the legislator responsible for the creation of the Assembly Committee on Aging and Long Term Care, I know that California seniors deserve far better health care options. I would like to continue my work to make it easier for seniors to receive good care at home as well as in good quality nursing homes.

California's children need comprehensive healthcare coverage, which is why I was a co-author of the Healthy Families legislation. I want to work to expand the Healthy Families Program to an increased percentage of the poverty line to widen the umbrella of Californians with access to health insurance. I also want to work on finding a solution to making health care more affordable for small business. My goal is to see that all Californians have access to affordable health care which they can receive in a timely manner.